Shipley not too busy to reach out for Mynar in time of need

There are so many negative stories filling the airwaves and newspapers these days that both have become glorified police blotters.

Here's one you'll never hear about and hopefully will put an extra skip in your step today.

When Rockdale senior and two-way starter Derrick Mynar went down with a season ending knee injury in the fifth game of the season, he was down in more ways than one.

He had already missed most of his junior season with a shoulder injury.

Feeling helpless, Mynar's father Darrell wanted to do something to boost his son's spirits.

"I wanted something good to happen for him that he could remember as a really good experience during this bad time."

The elder Mynar had met and talked to Bob Shipley at the state 7-on-7 tournament last summer in College Station. Shipley is the head football coach at Brownwood and father of Texas Longhorn receiver Jordan Shipley.

Mynar remembered that Derrick had attended a couple of football camps with Jaxon Shipley, Bob's younger son and Jordan's little brother.

"Derrick has always been a big fan of Jordan all the way back to watching Jordan play for Burnet in two state championship games and still today watches every Saturday and cheers for Jordan," Mynar said.

Shipley After thinking about it, Mynar emailed Coach Shipley and told him Derrick's story and asked if he would pass it along to Jordan.

"I just asked if Jordan could call Derrick," Mynar said. "I knew that Jordan had his own struggles with injuries and has overcome them and went on to do great things."

Coach Shipley emailed Mynar back and told him that he had forwarded the e-mail on to Jordan but due to his hectic schedule, he was unsure when, but that Jordan would call when time became available.

Jordan Shipley knows a little something about being hurt. He is in his sixth year of playing college football after receiving a medical redshirt after missing his first two years with injuries.

On the Monday his teammates were getting ready for the Coldspring game, Mynar told his father that he really wished he could play and help the teammates he loves so much achieve the dream that they began some 12 years ago.

"At 6:30 that same evening he was calling out to me from his room," Mynar said. "When I opened the door he was sitting on the edge of his bed with a big smile on his face and told me "you'll never guess who just called me."'

Mynar "He proceeded to tell me that Jordan Shipley had called him and they had talked for ten to fifteen minutes and that Jordan had told him about his own struggles with injuries and that he too can overcome and do great things. They shared a short conversation that my son will never forget and I am so grateful for."

The Mynars were on the Brownwood side of the stands Friday when the Lions tangled with Wimberley in Copperas Cove, in support of Jaxon and Derrick personally thanked Coach Shipley for his part.

"Sometime the best experiences are free and unforgettable," Mynar said.